Side Effects

Head/Brain

• Cerebral hemorrhage (bleeding into the cranial cavity) ^7,8
• Cerebral thrombosis (blood clot that drains blood from the brain) ^7,8
• Melasma, which may persist (skin discoloration; usually dark, irregular patches) ^7,8
• Migraine ^4,7,8
• Headache ^4,7,8
• Dizziness ^7,8
• Loss of scalp hair ^7,8
• Acne^4,7,8

Eyes

• Retinal thrombosis (blockage of the central retinal vein that carries blood away from the eye) ^7,8
• Change in corneal curvature (steepening of the cornea) ^7,8
• Intolerance to contact lenses ^7,8
• Cataracts ^7,8

Heart/Blood

• Thrombophlebitis and venous thrombosis with or without embolism (blood clots in the veins) ^4,7,8
• Hypertension (high blood pressure) ^7,8
• Mesenteric thrombosis (blood clot in the major veins that drain blood from the intestine) ^7,8
• Hemorrhagic eruption (bleeding eruption) ^7,8
• Arterial thromboembolism (blood clots in the heart) ^7,8
• Pulmonary embolism (arterial blockage, usually from a blood clot, that cuts off one lung's blood supply) ^7,8
• Myocardial infarction (heart attack) ^7,8
• Budd-Chiari Syndrome (closing of the veins that carry deoxygenated blood from the lower half of the body into the heart) ^7,8
• Hemolytic uremic syndrome (kidney failure and low platelet count in the blood) ^7,8

Mental

• Mental depression ^4,7,8
• Nervousness ^7,8

Whole Body

• Changes in libido (usually decreased libido) ^4,7,8
• Edema (increased fluid and subsequent pressure within an organ) ^7,8
• Change in weight (increase or decrease) ^7,8
• Rash (allergic reaction) ^7,8
• Pre-menstrual syndrome ^7,8
• Hirsutism (excessive hair growth in places where hair normally is minimal or absent) ^7,8
• Erythema multiforme (allergic reaction) ^7,8
• Erythema nodosum (skin inflammation) ^7,8
• Porphyria (disease that can manifest itself as anything from acute mania, including hallucinations, to constipation and skin rashes) ^4,7,8
• Bone loss ²
• Cancer (breast, uterine and vaginal) ⁴